CASTLES OF IRELAND

Irish castle history stretches nearly 1000 years, from the Norman invasions of the 1000s to the early 20th century. Ireland was a country to subdue, and to keep the population in check, castles were built to house the new ruling families and garrison their armies. The later castles were symbols of wealth and political power, architectural homages rather than military outposts.

Scope

Castles of Ireland is a Historical but also genealogical project often we ask our self the question who lived in these castles , by listing the castles with the people who lived in the castle we will be able to answer this question a bit better.

The scope of this project is not just to list all castles of Ireland but also tell the history of the families who build, owned or lived in them. The names of the castles will be added to the profiles of the family,builders or owners. The aim is to connect the names of the people to profiles here on GENi or create these profiles and family trees in case they do not exist yet

Tip

Use the find option from your browser to find names of a castle or person in the list.

County Cavan

Cabra Castle The Castle , and the land surrounding it, is believed to have belonged to the O'Reilly Family until it was confiscated in the mid 17th century by Cromwell's orders and given to Colonel Thomas Cooch , grandson to Sir Thomas Cooch K.C. who had migrated to Donegal in the 17th century having been granted 1,000 acres by James I.Colonel Thomas Cooch , first owner of Cabra Estate, married Elizabeth Mervyn , sister of Audley Mervyn (Speaker of the Irish House of Commons), and they had an only daughter and heiress, Elizabeth. Her first marriage ended when she was widowed in 1685 and Elizabeth then married Joseph Pratt , who lived not far off at Jaradice, Co. Meath, a property which he received when he migrated from Leicestershire to Ireland in 1641. This marriage (which was also Joseph Pratt's second) took place in 1686 and a son, Mervyn Pratt , was born in 1687.At this time, Colonel T. Cooch was still the owner of Cabra but in 1695, he made a will leaving all his property to Mervyn Pratt , his grandson, and when the Colonel died in 1699 the Cabra property came into the possession of the Pratt Family. Mervyn Pratt was then only twelve years old. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin and married Elizabeth Coote , daughter of Sir T. Coote, Judge, and lived at Cabra near the Wishing Well.

Castle Saunderson - 1573 - Built by - Saunderson family , the original castle was inhabited by the O'Reillys of Breffni . Captain Alexander Saunderson sold the Castle in 1977 to a businessman, who planned to use it as a residence, but this never transpired. It later served as a hotel, but was damaged by fire.

Cloughoughter Castle , Castle Ruins - believed to have been build in the first quarter of the 13th century, in 1233, the O'Reilly clan took possession of the area and completed the castle.During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Philip O'Reilly , then an MP for Cavan and secret leader of the Indigenous Irish revolutionaries, succeeded in a conspiracy at capturing Hugh Culme and seizing control of the castle.The British Cromwellian forces had defeated the surrounding indigenous Irish armies, pushed the defenses back to the lake, recovered the lake-shore and proceeded to bombard the castle from positions in the townland of Innishconnell. When the castle finally fell and the indigenous Irish captured in March 1653, it was the last stronghold of the rebellion to fall.

Lismore Castle, Kilmore - The castle site was originally occupied by Lismore Abbey, an important monastery and seat of learning established in the early 7th century. It was still an ecclesiastical centre when Henry II, King of England stayed here in 1171, and except for a brief period after 1185 when his son King John of England built a 'castellum' here, it served as the episcopal residence of the local bishop. In 1589, Lismore was leased and later acquired by Sir Walter Raleigh . Raleigh sold the property during his imprisonment for High Treason in 1602 to another infamous colonial adventurer, Richard Boyle , later 1st Earl of Cork the castle then descended to another Richard Boyle, 4th Earl of Cork & 3rd Earl of Burlington, later acquired by the Cavendish family and much later in 1947 by Lord Andrew Cavendish .

County Clare

Ballymarkahan Castle - The castle dates from the fifteenth century, built by the MacNamara family who built a number of castles in the area, including nearby Knappogue Castle, according to Irish antiquarian T. J. Westropp the original castle was built in 1430 by Donall, son of Shane an Gabhaltais. (John Conqueror)

Ballinalacken Castle - Most likely built in the 15th or early 16th century , the basements of Ballinalacken Castle are thought to have been set as far as the 10th century, by the Irish O'Connor clan. The fortress was founded in the 14th century and Lochlan MacCon O'Connor was in charge of its first rebuilding. In 1564 the control over West Corcomroe passed to the OBriens and later granted to Turlough O'Brien.

Ballyhannon Castle - medieval Irish castle dating back to the 15th century , built by Hugh, and possibly Síoda, sons of Donnchadh MacNamara.

Ballyportry Castle - 15th century Gaelic Tower House, constructed by the O’Brien Clan and was occupied by Mahone who was the son of Brian O'Brien. In 1961 an American architect Bob Brown purchased the castle .

Boston Castle - owned by Mahon O'Brien and defended by him for three months, before being killed by a musket ball during a siege of the castle laid by Richard Bingham in 1586.

Bunratty Castle Restored Castle - contructed around 1250 by Robert De Muscegros later granted to Thomas De Clare . Later after 1355 the castle fell in to the hands of Murtough O’Brien .The fourth castle, the present structure, was built by the MacNamara family after around 1425.

Caherminnaun Castle (site of) - was owned by Murrough O'Brien who died there in 1591.

Carrigaholt Castle - built in about 1480 by the McMahons, chiefs of the Corcabascin Peninsula, in 1586 captured by the fourth Earl of Thomond Donagh O'Brien later ownership was passed on to his brother Donal O'Brien later again the castle has been said to be acquired by the Burton family.

Castlefergus House A Blood Smyth property from the late 18th century, sold by the Blood Smyth to the Bloods of Ballykilty in the early 20th century. This house was occupied by Daniel Powell in 1814 but the Blood Smyths were in residence in the 1830s and 1850s. They appear to have held the property from Ralph Westropp. The mansion house of Castlefergus was in the possession of Rev William Blood Smith in 1906.

Castlelake House - Home of the Gabbett family in the 19th century, occupied by Robert Gabbett in 1814 and by John Gabbett in 1837 and in the 1850s. They held the property from the Westropp family with whom they intermarried. Home of the Carroll family in the second half of the 20th century, still occupied.

Craggaunowen Castle - built by John MacSioda MacNamara in 1550 a descendant of Sioda MacNamara who built Knappogue Castle in 1467.After the collapse of the Gaelic Order, in the 17th century, the castle was left roofless and uninhabitable.

Doonagore Castle - built in the 14th century, by Tadgh MacTurlough MacCon O'Connor , by 1580 the castle was owned by Sir Donald O'Brien before in fell in to the hands of the Clancy's.

Doonbeg castle - Doonbeg Castle was originally built for Daniel O'Brien, the Earl of Thomond. Turlough MacMahon of West Clare took Doonbeg in 1585. Some 10 years later, 1595, O'Brien reclaimed Doonbeg. In 1619 Daniel O'Brien gave Doonbeg Castle to James Comyn. The Crown took possession of it in 1688 and it was sold in 1703.By the late 1800's the Castle of Doonbeg had fallen into disrepair.

Dromoland Castle , Restored Castle - Dromoland Castle, one of the most famous baronial castles in Ireland, was the ancestral home of the O'Briens, Barons of Inchiquin, who are one of the few native Gaelic families of royal blood and direct descendants of Brian Boroimhe (Boru) High King of Ireland in the eleventh century. In 1014 Donough O'Brien, a son of Brian Boru, controlled Dromoland when it was a defensive stronghold. In 1651 the castle was rebuild , in 1660 Sir Donough O'Brien moved the most powerful branch of the OBriens to Dromoland. 1800-1836 The present main building of Dromoland Castle, with its high Gothic-styled grey stone walls, was rebuilt and designed by the Pain brothers, famous architects of that period. The castle was built by the then Lord of Dromoland, Sir Edward O'Brien, 4th Baronet, at great expense.In 1940 bought by Lord Inchiquin who sold the castle in 1962 to Mr. Bernard McDonough, an American industrialist, with Irish ancestry. 1987 a A consortium of mainly Irish American investors purchased the castle and estate, the castle is now a luxury hotel.

Dromore Castle - Dromore Castle was probably constructed in the early 16th century. In the 17th century, Teige O’Brien of the O'Brien clan repaired and expanded it. The castle and lands of Dromore had been granted to Teige's father, Connor Third Earl of Thomond), in 1579.

Freagh Castle - According to the Cecil S. Kenny material in the National Library of Ireland, Matthias Kenny of Freagh Castle, county Clare, born 1778 married Maria O'Kelly, daughter of Patrick O'Kelly of Cascade Lodge. Matthias was succeeded by his son, Michael Kenny, who married Bridget Frost of Bunkers Hill, Ballymorris, sister of James Frost who wrote The History and Topography of the county of Clare. Their third son was Mathew Joseph Kenny, a barrister and Member of Parliament, 1882-1885, and for mid Tyrone, 1885-1895.

Gleninagh Castle - In 1544 King Henry VIII of England granted Gleninagh to Richard Harding. The castle was owned by James Lynch of Galway in 1570. The O'Loughlins, who called themselves "Princes of Burren", owned the castle by 1574. The lands of Gleninagh were owned by the see of Kilfenora in 1629. The O'Loughlins later regained possession of the castle. They still lived there until the 1840s.

Gregan Castle - Dates from 1750 and is associated with the Martyn and O'Lochlainn families.

Knappogue Castle , Restored Castle - Built in 1467 by Seán Mac Conmara (or MacNamara), son of Sioda MacNamara expanded in the mid-19th century. Arthur Smith occupied the castle from 1659 to 1661. After 1661 back in the hands of the McNamara's who sold the castle to the Scott family of Cahircon in 1800. In 1855, the castle was acquired by Theobold Fitzwalter Butler, 14th Baron Dunboyne. It became the family seat of the Dunboyne family.In 1927, Knappogue demesne was purchased by the Irish Land Commission and the castle became the possession of the Quinn family, local farmers who allowed it to fall into disrepair. The castle and lands were then purchased in 1966 by Mark Edwin Andrews, former Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy, from Houston, Texas.

Leamaneh Castle , Castle Ruins - The castle was originally a basic, 5-storied Irish tower house which was built circa 1480, probably by Toirdelbhach Donn MacTadhg Ó Briain, King of Thomond of the O'Brien family, one of the last of the High Kings of Ireland and a direct descendant of Brian Boru.

Newtown Castle , Restored Castle - 16th century cylindrical fortified tower house ,built in the 16th century by part of the O’Brien clan. The castle then passed to the local O’Loughlin (also spelt O’Lochlainn or O’Loghlen) family.In the 1830’s the castle was home to Charles O’Loughlin who was given the title locally of the ‘King of Burren’, later his son Peter took over in the 19th century as the ‘Prince of Burren’. The family remained there until the end of the 1800’s when the castle fell into ruins.

Dysart O'Dea Castle - the Castle was built in 1480 by Diarmuid O’Dea, Lord of Cineal Fearmaic. The Earl of Ormond took the castle from the O'Dea clan in 1570 by force. By 1584, however, they had regained it. At that time, Domhnall Maol O'Dea was listed as owner.in the Nine Years' War of 1594-1603 Dysert Castle fell to the Protestant Bishop of Kildare, Daniel Neylon, who in 1594 bequeathed it to his son, John after this the castle came back in the hands of the O'Dea clan,in 1970, John O'Day of Wisconsin Rapids, WI, USA, purchased the tower and had it restored. The castle was then leased to the Dysert Development Association.

County Cork

Aghamarta Castle - probably built in the 12th century. In the late 17th century the castle was sold by the Earl of Shannon to the Pomeroy family. In 1824 Aghamarta Castle was bought by the O'Grady family. Then the castle was in great disrepair, and the O'Grady's used stone from the castle in the construction of the present mansion in 1830. The O'Grady's sold the property in 1916.

Ballea Castle - Local sources suggest that It was originally built by the McCarthy family and later acquired by the Hodders. Francis Hodder held this property in fee at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £24 10s. Lewis also refers to it as his seat in 1837.

Ballincollig Castle - Norman castle in its prime, the castle was inhabited by the Barretts in 1630 sold to Edmond Coppinger by the Barretts.

Ballintotis Castle - built as an outer defence for the Castlemartyr estate in the 16th century. The castle and lands were granted to George Moore in 1579 in gratitude for his contribution to the wars in Scotland and Ireland. The castle is included in the Down Survey of 1655 and the lands of ‘Killurgane and Ballytotis’ are listed as being the property of Edmund Fitzgerald at this time.

Ballyclogh Castle - Granted to Arthur Hyde Esq son of William Hyde of Denchwoorth Yorkshire on 26 January 1587 .

Ballyhooly Castle - The castle was built to guard a ford over the River Blackwater in the 16th century. Ballyhooly Castle was occupied by the Roches until it was forfeited in the Confederate Wars, when occupation passed to Richard Aldworth.

Ballymaloe Castle

Ballynamona Castle - Ballymaloe House can be traced back to an Anglo-Norman square castle built on this site around 1450, held by Desmond FitzGerald families' generations, particularly Sir John FitzEdmund FitzGerald.

Ballyrobert Castle - history unknown, Michael Mackay built a house beside the ruined castle of Ballyrobert in the 1820s and he is recorded as resident there by Lewis in 1837. In the early 1850s the house was valued at £23, occupied by Michael Mackay and held from John Peard. Michael J. Mackey occupied the house in 1906. This house no longer exists.

Barryscourt Castle Restored Castle.- 16th century seat of the Barry family, later passed on to a distant cousin, James FitzRichard of the Barryroes (Barra rua, "Red Barry"), in 1556

Belvelly Castle - The castle was originally built by and for the Anglo-Norman Hodnett family but was taken by the De la Roch (Roche) and De Barra (Barry) families in the 14th-century. Later leased back by the Hodnett family and after this used by by Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery.

Blackrock Castle , Restored Castle - Blackrock Castle was in the ownership of the City of Cork following a charter of James I to the City in 1608, following a banquet, the castle was destroyed by fire in 1827. The rebuilding began at the direction of Mayor Thomas Dunscombe in 1828 and was completed in March 1829.

Blackwater Castle , Restored Castle - built around the late 1200s as a fortress by the Cambro-Norman grandsons of Maurice FitzGerald, Alexander and Raymond FitzHugh, later in de hands of the Roche family till it was passed on in 1666 to Colonel John Widenham then changed the name to Wideham Castle. At the moment the restored castle has his orginal name again.

Blarney Castle, Castle Ruins - built by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, a cadet branch of the Kings of Desmond, and dates from 1446, The castle was sold and changed hands a number of times-Sir Richard Pyne, the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, owned it briefly- before being purchased in the early 1700s by Sir James St. John Jefferyes, then Governor of Cork City.

Bary or Buttevant Castle - It was built by the Barrys around 1200. Three baronies were granted to the Barry following the Norman Invasion, those of Killede, Olethan and Muscraighedunegan. They were seized and held by Ralph FitzStephen for a short time. But Raymond Le Gros, Robert FitzStephen and Philip Barry (who came to Ireland in 1185) recovered the lands and gave them to the rightful owner, Philip Barry. This grant was confirmed to Philip's son, William, in a grant from King John, dated 24 February, 1206. The lands around Kilnamullack had been held by the Dunegans prior to the Norman invasion. They well may havehad an earthen rath or lios at or near where the Barrys built their castle. Almost certainly the mill and weir had been in existence for some hundreds of years before the Normans came. A site where the castle commanded the mill had advantages. The swift-flowing Awbeg river below the weir offered defensive protection on one site; it also assured the water supply of the castle. So, there Is nothing surprising at the selection of the site where the Barry Castle was built and where Buttevant Castle now stands. For a long time, the head of the Barry clan lived at Buttevant, which became a very Important town. In 1317 (11th. of Edward II), the English Parliament voted £150 (say £150,00 in todays money) to enclose the town with a strong wall. In 1461, Morrogh O'Brien over-ran Munster, and damaged or took the town and castle of Buttevant. In 1555 Lord Barry was created Viscount Buttevant. The full story of Barry-Buttevant castle cannot be given here. Two small tales are of Interest. It is said that a bugler or drummer of the castle betrayed it to the besieger: when the castle was taken, the bugler or drummer was executed by the victor, who said "Thus may all traitors perish." At night, the head still rolls down the stairs, crying "betrayed, betrayed", and a blood-stain on the stairs cannot be washed away. In some accounts, the betrayal and execution are attributed to an early Norman Barry attacking the Celtic Donegan; It is impossible that there was a pre- Norman stone castle at Buttevant. The Incident might be based on the capture of the Castle by Ireton or one of his lieutenants In 1650/1651. Another tale is that underground passages connect the Barry castle with Ballybeg Priory; this is most unlikely.as tunnelling through some 1.000 yards of hard limestone rock would be a major undertaking. Another version of the tale says that the underground passage connects the castle with Buttevant Friary, and possibly with the old convent located between the castle and the Friary. This is more probable, and there are tales of how an early parish priest of Buttevant sealed off a passage opening out towards the castle from the Friary.

Lombards Castle Buttevant - This was more the substantial town house of a family of merchants of Italian origin, engaged in trade and banking. They collected monies due to the Pope; they ran the wool trade. The name Lombard is well-known in the Buttevant area from the earliest Norman times. It was seized during the mid- 17th century troubles. On 28th. Sept.. 1669, Castle Lombard, its two-acre garden, its one-acre orchard and two acres in Gortine-spunk, was granted by Charles II to Col. John Gifford. It was used as a school for a considerable time, under a legacy from a wealthy widow, Anne Muscham; this lasted to around 1818.

Desmond Tower Buttevant - This is incorporated into the present Roman Catholic parish church. It was built by the Earl of Desmond. He retired

there. It has several names in the records - Cullin (according to Smith); "Caisland Caomhin" (Brash, 1852) and "Killeen Castle" (Field Book of 1839).

Ballinguile Castle Buttevant - What remains now is the original castle, but the ruins of buildings which succeeded it built in or out of the older castle of the Stapletons soon after the reign of King John - Say in 1220, at the beginning of the long reign of King Henry III. During the 1640-1650 Confederation of Kilkenny wars, it was claimed by Sir Philip Percival (of Churchtown). In 1644, the Irish, including Staleton and Barrys, took the castle of Ballinguile from Sir Percival. Under the restored Stuarts the Freemans took it over and probably erected the building whose shattered pillars can be seen in a field to the west of the Cork Dublin railroad. Blue gates lead to the present ruin. The gaunt pillars and walls are now slender and the wide windows certainty suggest a building no earlier than the late 17th century or early 18th century. There is an enormous cleft down one entire wall. There is a lofty chimney shaft on the north wall and a trace of what might have been a circular stairs with garderobe. There is no present indication of fortification. There is a fosse between it and the railways as well as a line of trees.

Lisgriffin Castle - It Is reasonably certain that the castle was built by Garret Barry about 1605-1610. There are the usual pardons to those who held Lisgriffin Castle - to Richard James Barry, 15 May. 1573; to John FitzRichard Barrie of Lisgriffin, Katherine Skollie. his wife. Philip Fitzjohn Barrie, of same. A.D. 1600. etc. In 1580. the Royalist army, marching from Limerick to Dingle, encamped at Lisgriffin on 12 June, 1580. By deeds dated 6 June, 1619. Redmond Fitzjohn Barry of Lisgriffin was granted extensive lands which were formed into the "Manor of Lisgriffin" by James I. However, by 1657, Lisgriffin Castle had become the property of the Grove family of Cahirduggan. In 1911, Col. Grove-White had, with permission, removed a fine limestone mantlepiece from the top floor of Lisgriffln Castle, and installed it in his home. Only the west wall of the castle remains. Jeremiah Healy, then of the creamery of Lisgriffln told Grove-White that the other walls fell on 2 March 1914 without showing any previous damage, and on an evening which was absolutely calm. The chimney on the north wall had blown down in 1900. There had been a spanking hole on the front wall.

Templeconnell Castle Buttevant - o records have been found regarding the period when this castle was built. It is of very good construction, and resembles somewhat the style of Lisgriffln Castle. So, it could have been rebuilt after 1603, almost certainly by a Barry, who then had a major stronghold at Liscarroll. However, a castle of some sorts may have been there earlier, for a Pardon of Elizabeth to Edmund Maugner, of Templeconnolly is dated 6 May, 1573. By 1622, the estate of Templeconila was in the possession of Edward Stapleton, alias Mclgile. In 1639 It was purchased by Sir Philip Percival; it became a Perclval stronghold during the 1640-1650 wars. On about 16 Sept., 1643, it was seized from Sir Percival by Edward Maugner, Stapleton and others, and declared the possession of Thomas Barry of Buttevant. By 1713, it was rented from the Percivals by Richard Freeman of Ballinguile.

The Black Castle, Wicklow Town (now ruins). In 834 AD the Vikings fortified a strategic rocky promontory at the mouth of the Vartry River in Wicklow Town. Following the Norman invasion a castle was subsequently built, now known as the Black Castle. Between 1295 and 1315 the castle was attacked and burnt down twice by the local O'Byrne Clan.